on2 OLD SAKXIA. 



but nevcrtlielcss the house I'emalned empty and the building 

 or barn adjoining only used for storing farm imj)lements, 

 roots, cK:c. For a long time nothing occiu'red to disturb the 

 even tenour of the family's way. My informant when he 

 arrived here Avas a little boy, and after hearing the 

 strange story he often watehed the old house at night, 

 but neither saw nor heard anything that smaeked of 

 the supernatural. He grew u]) to manhood, married, and 

 took the farm himself. In winter he made it a practice 

 to prepare the next day's food for the cattle in the barn 

 above-mentioned between eight and nine o'clock at night, 

 never later. He was asked several times by his older neigh- 

 bours if he ever heard anything unusual when at work in the 

 barn. But when he replied that he had not, and added that 

 he Avas ahvays finished by nine o'clock, the reply was " Ah, tu 

 devrais y etre entre onze heures et miniet." But not having 

 occasion he did not trouble himself to go to the barn later 

 than nine o'clock at night. 



NoAv it happened that during December of the year 1906 

 he had been attendino^ during" the eA^enins; to a coav Avhich 

 had lately calved, and at eleven o'clock he thought she 

 required some more litter to make her comfortable for the 

 night. So he proceeded to the old barn Avith a chopper and 

 a lantern, took some furze and commenced chopping it small. 

 He had not long been occupied Avhen he found that his lantern 

 grcAv dim, and at the same moment heard a rumble like 

 a barrow-load of stones suddenly shot doAvn upon a paA'e- 

 ment. It appeared to him that the sound was a few yards 

 aAvay. Somewhat surprised, and remembering Avhat he had 

 been told, he took up his lantern and looked arcund, but saw^ 

 nothing in particidar. Thinking he Avas the victim of an 

 hallucination he resinned his furze-chopping, Avhen the noise 

 Avas repeated, but this time much louder, as though a larger 

 quantity of stones had been thrOAvn doAvn, and also much 

 nearer to him. Again he searched Avith the lantern, but could 

 see no trace of stones anyAvhere about the barn. He then 

 determined to continue his Avork, which he did, laughing at 

 AAdiat he said Avas an impossibility. Scarcely had lie resumed 

 his occupation when once more the lantern grew dim, and 

 again came the crash of falling stones. But this time it 

 seemed that a Avliole cartload of granite had fallen just behind 

 him. Greatly agitated, he sAvung his lantern around once 

 more, but again he could see nothing of the stones Avhich he 

 had heard so distinctly fall, and, as already said, immediately 

 behind him. He remembers calling out, " Si t'as quic chose a 



